Four arrested after 14-year-old girl ‘lashed to death’ in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Feb 3(ANI): Four people, including a Muslim cleric, have been arrested in Bangladesh in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl who was publicly lashed.

Hena Begum’s was accused of having an affair with a married man, and a Shariatpur village court gave the punishment under Islamic Sharia law.

The teenager reportedly received 80 lashes, and died after being taken to hospital.

“Her family members said she was admitted to a hospital after the incident and she died six days later. The village elders also asked the girl’s father to pay a fine of about 50,000 Taka,” the BBC quoted Shariatpur Superintendent of Police Shahidur Rahman, as saying.

Rahman further said that the police are yet to establish whether Hena died because of the punishment she received or another reason.

“We are still waiting for the post-mortem report. In the meantime, we are also looking for another 14 people including a teacher from a local madrassa in connection with this case,” Rahman said.

Meanwhile, Hena’s father Dorbesh Khan has said that those responsible for the death should be punished.

“What sort of justice is this? My daughter has been beaten to death in the name of justice. If it had been a proper court then my daughter would not have died,” Khan said.

This is the second reported fatality linked to a Sharia law punishment since the practice was outlawed in the country by a High Court last year.

A 40-year-old woman had died in December, days after she was publicly caned for allegedly having an affair with her stepson. (ANI)